NHL playoffs: Crosby helps Penguins beat Caps

Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) celebrates his goal with the bench during the second period of Game 1 of the team's NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series against the Washington Capitals on Thursday, April 27, in Washington. (Nick Wass/AP)

WASHINGTON — Sidney Crosby scored two goals in 52 seconds, Nick Bonino had the winner in the third period and the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Washington Capitals 3-2 in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series on Thursday night.

Crosby versus Alex Ovechkin got much of the buzz heading into the showdown of two of NHL’s best teams, and Ovechkin collected his fourth goal of the playoffs.

Evgeny Kuznetsov tied it in the third, but Marc-Andre Fleury made 15 of his 32 saves in the final period to help the defending Stanley Cup champions to the victory.

Crosby was a threat to score just about every time he touched the puck. He beat Braden Holtby with his first two shots of the second period.

Holtby stopped 18 shots, but he allowed Bonino’s goal at 12:36.

Game 2 is Saturday night.

SENATORS 2, RANGERS 1

OTTAWA, Ontario — Erik Karlsson scored on a bad-angle shot with 4:11 left in the third period, lifting Ottawa to the win in the opener of its second-round playoff series.

The Senators captain beat fellow Swede Henrik Lundqvist from just above the goal line. The shot pinged off Rangers center Derek Stepan before going into the net.

It was Karlsson’s first goal and seventh point of the playoffs. The 26-year-old defenseman, who has been playing with a foot injury, also logged more than 28 minutes in the win.

Game 2 is Saturday.

Ryan McDonagh scored for New York, and Lundqvist finished with 41 saves.

Craig Anderson stopped 33 shots and Ryan Dzingel scored for Ottawa, which eliminated Boston in six games in the first round.